Illinois vs. Michigan State preview

Monday

Jan 17, 2011 at 12:01 AMJan 17, 2011 at 5:22 PM

After two Big Ten Conference road losses left coach Bruce Weber feeling the pain and the fan base cranky, No. 23 Illinois headed into a crucial week searching for "home-court medicine,'' Weber said, with two games in Assembly Hall against ranked league heavyweights. After the game against No. 17 Michigan State on Tuesday, the Illini host No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday.

John Supinie

After two Big Ten Conference road losses left coach Bruce Weber feeling the pain and the fan base cranky, No. 23 Illinois headed into a crucial week searching for "home-court medicine,'' Weber said, with two games in Assembly Hall against ranked league heavyweights.

After the game against No. 17 Michigan State on Tuesday, the Illini host No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday.

"This is a huge week for us,'' Weber said. "Something we've been emphasizing since the beginning is protecting the home court. We've been able to hold service so far.''

The Buckeyes are the first team to head to the Hall with the nation's top ranking since Dee, Deron and Luther drilled Wake Forest in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge to send the 2004-05 season into another gear. The Illini were ranked No. 1 that following week.

This season, the Illini just want to bounce back from a pair of losses to Penn State and Wisconsin on the road -- still a treacherous place for Big Ten teams.

The losses, Weber said, "are painful. It's hard to deal with. I'm just being honest. It means a lot. You put a lot of time in. It's your life. Winning and losing is sometimes overblown.

"I'm disappointed in our performance the last two games. We lost the play-hard chart. I didn't think we were great in execution. That's what really, to me, is just as painful as the loss.''

Just returning home doesn't guarantee a victory, especially when the Illini host two programs who have been giving them fits. Michigan State won five of the last six meetings (the only Illini win came at home last year for College GameDay. Ohio State is 8-2 against Illinois since forward Matt Sylvester drained a jumper in 2005 to end the Illini's perfect regular-season on the final weekend.

"The biggest thing is to play hard, come out and play hard,'' Weber said. "If you come out and play your butts off and compete, you hope some of the things start to go your way. It shouldn't be a stressful situation. It's two great teams coming in, playing at home, the students are back, national ESPN audience and leading off a national tripleheader (on CBS) Saturday. It should be something you relish.''

After missing practice Thursday and Friday before dressing but not playing in the loss to Wisconsin, freshman forward Jereme Richmond returned to practice Sunday, and Weber hoped the versatile freshman forward would be "a valuable member of the team down the stretch run.'' Weber reiterated Richmond's absence was because of "personal issues.''

"I'm not sure where all the rumors come from,'' Weber said.

The critics jumped on Weber's back. Remember, said Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, this was considered the best league in the country, and there's more parity than usual.

"I said that the first day,'' Izzo said. "I haven't changed my mind. Sometimes it's coach-speak, but I don't think there's any question about the parity in the league.''

Iowa pushed Ohio State in Iowa City. Penn State defeated Michigan State and Illinois, then nearly upset Ohio State in Columbus Sunday.

The Spartans survived overtime games at home against Wisconsin and Northwestern last week. Izzo called Weber Sunday morning. These two talk all the time in a friendship forged in a relationship built when they were both Big Ten assistants. Izzo confided in Weber last summer while considering the offer to take over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"We talked several times in the transition,'' Weber said. "He definitely had an inkling to go. If you look at the Cavaliers right now, that's what was his biggest fear. He didn't know if he could deal with that. If he had a good feeling about Lebron coming back, Tom might have made the move to just try it and see if he liked it.''

Michigan State is the role model for bouncing back. Annually, the Spartans battle through a rugged non-conference slate and tumble down the top 25 before making a run in March Madness. Michigan State reached the Final Four for the sixth time in the last 12 seasons a year ago, despite the loss to guard Kalin Lucas to an Achilles injury in the tournament's second round.

If Michigan State can improve its shooting, the Spartans become even more dangerous. Michigan State shot 42.2 percent in the first five Big Ten games.

"I thought we played well in most aspects of the game, except for shooting the ball against both Wisconsin and Northwestern,'' Izzo said. "Our defense and rebounding are pretty good. We improved in some areas. We're not shooting the ball well. We go on the road for two big games. (The Spartans play at Purdue Saturday). We better improve in that area quickly, or we're in trouble.''

Noteworthy: The series is tied 54-54, but the Spartans have won seven of the last nine meetings. … McCamey is one of six players in Big Ten history and the only active player nationally with 1,500 points and 600 assists. He is one of 20 finalists for the Cousy Award that goes to the nation's top point guard. … Illinois fell from fourth to sixth in 3-point shooting nationally at 42.5 percent. … Green averaged 21 points a game against Wisconsin and Northwestern to earn Big Ten player of the week. Roe grabbed nine or more rebounds in three of the last six games.

Key for Illini: Match Michigan State's toughness and grit.

Key for Spartans: Take care of the basketball and make some shots.

Key quote: "We have a big week at home with Michigan State and Ohio State. Hopefully, we'll play well at home and get back in the race.'' -- Illinois coach Bruce Weber.